Book Review: Deep, Deep Down: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench by Lydia Lukidis, Juan Calle

Deep, Deep Down: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench was written by Lydia Lukidis and illustrated by Juan Calle. Deep, deep down, at the very bottom of the ocean, lies a secret world. Through lyrical narration, this spare-text STEM picture book takes readers on a journey to a place very few humans have ever been—the Mariana Trench. The imagined voyage debunks scary myths about this mysterious place with surprising and beautiful truths about life at Earth's deepest point. Deep, Deep Down shows a vibrant world far below, and teaches readers how interconnected our lives are to every place on the planet.

Deep, Deep Down is a beautifully illustrated book that captures the mysterious creatures and habitat deep in the ocean. The artwork is realistic, but still carries a touch of cartoonish edging. The words are few, but have a nice cadence and flow well. I also liked the boxes of detailed information of the creatures featured in the book, as well as the markers as to the depth and pictured creatures on just about every page. These pieces of information are great for the interested and curious, and might spark more interest in younger readers, while they do not distract those that are just interested in the artwork and narration. In the same vein, I like the additional information and glossary that are included at the end of the book. I think the only thing that was missing was a list of resources for further investigation of the subject matter. I think because of this the book will stand up well to multiple readings and a wider range of age groups.